SOUTH

Located at the southern tip of the African continent, South Africa is roughly twice the size of Texas with almost 3,000 km of coastline bordering the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. About 49 million South Africans are spread out over nine provinces. South Africa is a pluricultural country and multiethnic society with 11 recognized official languages, nine of which are indigenous, plus English and .

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Travel logistics for GCE MyCOE TechCamp-South Africa Reënboognasie Die

The GCE MyCOE Youth TechCamp will be held in , South Africa from July 14 to July 23, 2014 with a mandatory orientation in Washington, DC July 11-13, 2014. Travel and lodging costs will be provided for your orientation in Washington, DC. All GCE MyCOE participants and chaperones will fly from Washington, DC to Pretoria, South Africa as a group for the Youth TechCamp on July 14, 2014. All GCE MyCOE participants will fly together from Pretoria, South Africa to Washington, DC on July 23, 2014.

Flight arrangements will be made by AAG Staff for students and chaperones. Unaccompanied minors program available upon request.

Visa information for US Citizens traveling to South Africa: -

Tourist Visa not required for stays under 90 days The Rainbow Nation REQUIRED: 2 BLANK pages in passport for entry stamp*

*If you do not have two blank pages, please submit a DS-4085 form for additional visa pages! Processing time is 4-6 weeks. For more information, please see: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/services/pages.html

Vaccines and other Health information for travelling abroad

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that before traveling internationally; make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.

The government of South Africa requires proof of yellow fever vaccination only if you are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever. This does not include the US. If you are traveling from a country other than the US, check this list to see if you may be required to get the yellow fever vaccine: Countries with risk of yellow fever virus (YFV) transmission.

For more information on health information for travel to South Africa, please visit: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/south-africa

Before you go, prep information for international travel http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/go.html

Smart packing tips:

• Pack summer clothes for Washington DC Orientation, but pack warmer clothing for South Africa (June/July is Southern Hemisphere winter) • Make a packing list and pack lightly. The workshop is business casual attire but we also want participants to be comfortable during field exercises. • Pick the right bag or suitcase! You will need to bring enough clothes for both the orientation and workshop. You may want to leave some extra room for souvenirs if you plan on buying some. Most importantly, make sure you make your bag easy to identify as yours! Colored ribbons or luggage tags or even a fun sticker will make your bag stand out. • Protect your valuables. Keep all your valuables with you, either in your purse or in your carry- on. Do not put them in your checked luggage and risk them being missing when you pick up your bag. • Be ready to re-charge. Make sure to take everything you need to keep your electronics charged and going strong: camera case and cord, MP3 player cord, and phone charger. • Carry on the essentials. Make sure you can reach things you’ll need during the flight or trip. Consider including a book, music player, lotion, lip balm, hair bands, gum and ear plugs. • DON’T FORGET: Your prescriptions and copies of all prescriptions (make sure prescriptions include generic names), Glasses (Consider packing spare glasses in case yours are damaged) or Contacts (Consider packing spare contacts in case yours are damaged), proof of yellow fever vaccination, and health insurance documents (health insurance card and copies of claim forms)

Tips for long plane rides:

The flights to Africa can seem quite long - prepare in advance for the time and it will go much smoother. - Dress comfortably in loose-fitting clothes — don’t wear anything tight enough to block blood flow or cause your ankles to swell. - Get an aisle seat or exit row so you can get up and walk around whenever possible - Drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after your flight - Avoid heavily caffeinated drinks

APPENDIX - SOUTH AFRICA ii Tips for jet lag: We will be flying through several time zones and it will take you some time to adjust to the new clock. While there are not any remedies that can fix the biological confusion completely, think about these tips from About.com:

- Use Discipline: The most effective jet lag remedy is to force your body into its new routine. Avoid the temptation to lay down in the middle of the afternoon; instead, wait until proper time to sleep at night. Eat meals at set times regardless of whether or not you are hungry. - Get Lots of Sunlight: Your melatonin cycles -- and ultimately your internal clock -- are dictated by the amounts of sunlight coming into your eyes. - Avoid Caffeine: Avoid drinking caffeine after midday until you get readjusted. - Start on the Plane: Set your watch to the time in your future destination, then do your best to sleep and eat based on the new timezone rather than the old. Get up, move around the plane to avoid lethargy, and avoid just snoozing through the entire flight.

Safety while traveling internationally a. Signup for STEP Program: Smart Traveler Enrollment Program https://step.state.gov/step/ b. Tips for students abroad, this information portal is designed for student studying abroad on longer programs but it includes very helpful tips for first time travelers and young travelers: http://studentsabroad.state.gov/

TechCamp Venue in South Africa

Our partner EIS-Africa, is a pan African non-profit organization registered in the Republic of South Africa, headquartered in Pretoria, and is the leading regional organization promoting the use of Environmental and Geospatial Information, Science and Technology through a variety of capacity building activities including the hosting of the AfricaGIS conference and in-country training. www.eis-africa.org

The main learning and training venue for the TechCamp is at the University of Pretoria, in collaboration with the Centre for Geoinformation Science, Department Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, Students will stay at the university in campus lodging. Address: University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa Phone Contact: +27 12 349 1068 https://web.up.ac.za/default.asp?ipkCategoryID=16053

APPENDIX - SOUTH AFRICA iii

Country Profile: South Africa

South Africa is a parliamentary democracy and is, in many respects, a developed country, although much of its population lives in poverty. All major urban areas have modern, world-class hotels and tourist facilities. Food and water are generally safe, and a wide variety of consumer goods and pharmaceuticals is readily available. The capital is Pretoria, while the seat of parliament is located in . For more information, please visit: www.travel.state.gov

History

According to www.south-africa.me.uk/pretoria.htm , South Africa is made up of three capital cities, Pretoria represents the executive branch of the government (Capetown represents the legislative and represents the judicial capitals). Pretoria itself was founded in 1855 by Marthinus Pretorius, a leader of the Voortrekkers, who named it after his father Andries Pretorius.

Geography

Pretoria’s Wikipedia page states that it is a metropolitan city located in the northern part of Province, South Africa. Pretoria is situated approximately 55 km (34 mi) north-northeast of Johannesburg in the northeast of South Africa, in a transitional belt between the plateau of the Highveld to the south and the lower-lying Bushveld to the north. It lies at an altitude of about 1,350 m (4,500 ft) above sea level, in a warm, sheltered, fertile valley, surrounded by the hills of the range. Pretoria in South Africa is popularly known as The Jacaranda City due to the thousands of Jacaranda trees planted in its streets, parks and gardens.

Architecture

The architecture of South Africa mirrors the vast ethnic and cultural diversity of the country and its historical colonial period. In addition, influences from other, distant, countries have contributed to the variety of the South African architectural landscape. Some of the notable structures in Pretoria include the Union Buildings, , the main campus of the University of South Africa, (the President's House), Reserve Bank of South Africa (Office Tower) and the Lukas Rand Transmission Tower. Other known structures and buildings include the Loftus Versfeld Stadium, The South African State Theatre, University of Pretoria, Head Quarters of the Department of International Relations and Co-Operation.

Population Depending on the extent of the area understood to constitute "Pretoria", the population ranges from 500,000 to 2.950 million. The main language spoken in the Pretoria is Afrikaans (Africans); also widely spoken are Pedi, Sotho, Tswana, Tsonga, Zulu and English.

APPENDIX - SOUTH AFRICA iv Weather

Referencing www. Myweather2.com, the climate in South Africa is typically mostly semiarid, subtropical along east coast meaning in July there are sunny days and cool nights. The terrain has vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and a narrow coastal plain. Throughout the month of July daytime temperatures will generally reach highs of around 70°F. At night the average minimum temperature drops down to 40°F (similar to San Francisco’s climate). In recent times the highest recorded temperature in July has been 84°F, with the lowest recorded temperature averaged 30°F. The average daily relative humidity for July is around 49%. The average monthly amount of precipitation has been recorded at around 4 mm which that's 0 inches. It is highly unlikely that you will see rain or drizzle throughout July.

Traditional Cuisine

South African tourism link, www. Southafrica.info, states that Pretoria is the diplomatic hub of South Africa – which means cultures from all corners of the globe call this city home. South Africans enjoy not only beef, but mutton, goat, chicken and other meats as a centerpiece of a meal. On weekends, many South African families, like , have a "braai," and the meal usually consists of "pap and vleis," which is maize meal and grilled meat. Eating meat even has a ritual significance in both traditional and modern South African culture. For many South Africans meat is the center of any meal. The influence of their diet is reflected in the common Southern African love of barbecue (generally called in South Africa by its Afrikaans name, a "braai") and biltong (dried preserved meat). In many ways, the daily food of South African families can be traced to the indigenous foods that their ancestors ate. A typical meal in a South African family household that is Bantu-speaking is a stiff, fluffy porridge of maize meal (called "pap," and very similar to American grits) with a flavorful stewed meat gravy. Traditional rural families (and many urban ones) often ferment their pap for a few days — especially if it is sorghum instead of maize — which gives it a tangy flavor. The vegetable is often some sort of pumpkin, varieties of which are indigenous to South Africa, although now many people eat pumpkins that originated in other countries. Rice and beans are also very popular even though they are not indigenous. Another common vegetable dish, which arrived in South Africa with its many Irish immigrants, but which has been adopted by South Africans, is shredded cabbage and white potatoes cooked with butter. The vegetarian population is small in South Africa however most meals are served with pumpkins, beans and cabbage.

Non-Traditional, Popular Fast Food Cuisine Popular foods in modern South Africa are chicken, limes, garlic, ginger, chili, tomatoes, onions and many spices. While there are some restaurants that specialize in traditional South African dishes or restaurants featuring other cuisines such as Moroccan, Chinese, West African, Congolese and Japanese can be. Some American fast food chains such as Kentucky Fried Chicken and the United Kingdom hamburger chain, Wimpy can be found in Pretoria. Local fast food chains such as Nando's, Steers, Chicken Licken, Barcelos and King Pie.

APPENDIX - SOUTH AFRICA v Time Zones Pretoria, South Africa is in the South African Standard Time (SAST) Zone. Which means the following:

• If you live in the Eastern Standard Time (EST) Zone; Your city is 7 hours behind SAST. Example: If it is 4pm EST in the United States, it is 11pm SAST in Pretoria. • If you live in the Central Standard Time (CST) Zone; Your city is 8 hours behind SAST. Example: If it is 3pm EST in the United States, it is 11pm SAST in Pretoria. • If you live in the Mountain Standard Time (MST) Zone; Your city is 9 hours behind SAST. Example: If it is 2pm MST in the United States, it is 11pm SAST in Pretoria. • If you live in the Pacific Standard Time (PST) Zone; Your city is 10 hours behind SAST. Example: If it is 1pm PST in the United States, it is 11pm SAST in Pretoria.

Currency

The U.S. dollar has an intricate exchange rate in Pretoria, South Africa. The South African currency is commonly known as the Zuid-Afrikaanse Rand (ZAR). According to themoneyconverter.com the United States currency exchange rate is the following:

USD (U.S. Dollar) ZAR (Zuid-Afrikaanse Rand) $1 R/10.85 ZAR $5 R/54.26 ZAR $10 R/108.52 ZAR $100 R/1,085.16 ZAR $250 R/2,712.90 ZAR $500 B/5,425.80 ZAR

Additional Online Resources

National Geographic - South Africa http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/south-africa-guide/

Lonely Planet - South Africa www.lonelyplanet.com/south-africa

Fordor’s - South Africa www.fodors.com/world/africa-and-middle-east/south-africa/johannesburg/pretoria/

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